Acquire J Smith & J McGee. Keep KG. Win Banner 18

[ghost_of_davidthirdkill]

Step 1:  Trade picks 21 & 22 to Dallas for #17 and select Arnett Moultrie

Moultrie at 6-11 can play the 4 and some 5.  He's long and athletic.  He's got a fairly good low post game, while being able to step out on the pick and pop.  Plus he's an excellent rebounder.  I believe he could turn out to be a Lamarcus Aldridge type player.  Maybe not as good, but close.


Step 2:  Buy OKC's #28 pick and select Will Barton SG/SF

OKC's roster is filled with young players.  They would probably be willing to get rid of that pick for cash.  Plus, I really like Barton.  I know that he's thin, but he's long, can shoot and score.


Step 3:  Select Robert Sucre (C) with our 2nd round pick

Sucre's not that athletic but he has size and can hopefully be a decent 3rd or 2nd center.


Step 4:  Renounce our free agents


Step 5:  3 way trade with Lakers and Hawks

         Celtics receive:  Josh Smith & Marvin Williams
         Lakeers receive:  Paul Pierce & Brandon Bass
         Hawks receive:    Pau Gasol

This is the hardest part.  While sentimentality makes it hard to trade Pierce (and worse to our hated rivals the Lakers), this is a business.  Additionally, at least we'd be sending him back home and to a contender.

This works for the Lakers, because it provides them with scoring punch to take the load off of Kobe.  They're done with Gasol.  This gives them a proven scorer (clutch as well), plus Bass who can pick and pop for them, which helps space the court with Bynum in the middle.

This works for the Hawks, because it Gasol would allow Horford to play his more natural position, power forward.  Also, they get something in return for a player who isn't going to be there after this upcomming year.

The C's get a talented and young wing to play alongside his very good friend Rondo.  Smith is athletic, can rebound and defend.  An excellent transition mate for Rondo and Bradley.  Idealy I would amnesty Williams and sign Green.  However, if that's not possible, I'd be okay with Williams as a back up SF.


Step 6:  Sign JaVale McGee to a 4 year $46 million contract.
         Yr1 $10 mil, Yr2 $11 mil, Yr3 $12mil, Yr4 $13mil

McGee while a bonehead in Washington, showed much more maturity in Denver.  He also held his own against Bynum in the playoffs.  He also is long athletic, and gifted.  Another perfect running mate for Rondo.


Step 7:  Sign KG to a 2 year $19 million contract (Yr1 $8mil)

The reason that I have this move this low is because I'd asume the C's are going to give KG time to think about his future.  Also, I believe that while he probably won't initially like having Paul and Ray gone, he will appreciate the other moves made and might actually enjoy the possiblity of playing with these younger players.  Also, the other moves would allow the C's to cut his minute down to 20-25/game, which would only help his overall game.


Step 8:  Sign Chauncey Billups for $2.55 million by using the
         Room Exception

Billups would provide the C's a solid back up at the 1 and 2, with championship experience.  Plus it allows Billups to finish his career where it started.



Celtics roster for 2012/2013:

PG:  Rondo/Billups/Moore
SG:  Bradley/Barton
SF:  Smith/Green or Williams
PF:  KG/Moultrie/JJJ
C:   McGee/Stiemsma/Sucre


I believe this roster would make the Celtics a perenial contender and is reasonable.

[EDWARDO]

Prolly not

[Rondo2287]

Yo certainly have a well thought out idea so props for that.

I just dont really like Mcgee and I think we saw this year how potent KG is at the center position where he has the speed advantage over his matchup so I wouldnt want to move him back to PF at this point.

[radiohead]

Do you think KG would be willing to return to a Boston team without PP?

[wdleehi]

No.


Smith and McGee both being over 10 million a year is just bad NBA management.


Smith is a PF, not a SF.



KG is now a better C then a PF.




Pierce should never be sent to the Lakers. 

[chambers]

It's hard to think about who takes the last shot on this roster.
KG will be swarmed and so will Bradley.
We will be relying on Rondo, Josh Smith and Javale Mcgee for offense with most teams clogging the paint and forcing us to shoot long.
We can run pick and pop with KG/Rondo but not really anyone else on this roster.

I do like your detailed effort. I'd actually rather go after Gasol than Mcgee and keep Gasol somehow- he's a sure thing while we still have KG. Once KG is gone in the next two years, we are left with Rondo, Mcgee and/or Smith.
I'd go for the proven tandem in Gasol+KG, 10-14 million on McGee is a huge gamble.

[wdleehi]

Not to mention KG is the best (and only) outside shooter in the starting lineup.

[KY Celts fan]

Absolutely in no way does Pierce not retire a Celtic. But even if we did trade him, no way does he go to the Lakers. That's sacrilege.

Also, you can't renounce your rights to FA then sign KG to that large of a contract. If you renounce your rights to him, you can only sign him with a vet min deal, or cap exceptions which we won't have. But if you trade away Pierce, KG ain't coming back.

You also have Moore on your roster after saying you want to renounce our free agents. What's up with that?

Brandon Bass has a player option for this year. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding trading a player in that situation. Can he even be traded before he's made that decision? If he does decide to stay with the team, is there a certain amount of time he has to be with the team before he becomes tradeable again? Can you do a sign and trade if he decides not to pick up the last year of his contract?

[ghost_of_davidthirdkill]

In response to late game situations with this roster, I would have the following line up:

Rondo, Bradley, Green, Smith and KG.

This would place two players (Bradley & Green) who can stretch the defense with 3 point capablity.  I'm not saying they're great 3 point shooters, but they are capable of making them, which would force teams to defend them.

While he's not a great shooter, Smith is more than capable of hitting 18/19 footers.  This would give Rondo two players (KG included) capable of playing pick and roll with.

None of this even brings to light the fact that the C's would have 5 players capable of cutting to the basket and finishing strongly.

[KCattheStripe]

Josh Smith as a SF? No me gusta.

[pearljammer10]

Yikes. Trade our mr clutch and get two bone heads in smith and mcgee in return? Ouch. I would love love love Smith to fill our PF spot but theres no way its at the expense of Pierce.

[CantBeRight]

Delusional..

[mctyson]

Atlanta would never agree to that trade.

[sofutomygaha]

Step 1:  Trade picks 21 & 22 to Dallas for #17 and select Arnett Moultrie

I like it! With you so far... (though later on I'm going to wish you had drafted a shooting guard or a small forward instead).

Step 2:  Buy OKC's #28 pick and select Will Barton SG/SF

I don't believe you. It's a good, deep draft. OKC has needs too. At the very least, they will have a spot for a bench guard and a center.

Step 3:  Select Robert Sucre (C) with our 2nd round pick

Not my first choice, but definitely defensible there.

Step 4:  Renounce our free agents

ok, <deepbreath>

Step 5:  3 way trade with Lakers and Hawks
         Celtics receive:  Josh Smith & Marvin Williams
         Lakeers receive:  Paul Pierce & Brandon Bass
         Hawks receive:    Pau Gasol

And the Lakers say "OMG why did I take Pierce and Bass in that deal when I could have had Smith and Williams?!?!?!?!" This is the weak link, as Smith and Williams are actually even better fits for the Lakers!

I assumed initially that you were not intending to resign Garnett. Instead, you see Smith playing some SF. I think that the most likely scenario with your personnel is that McGee comes off the bench in year 1 and Garnett comes off the bench in year two. Either way, Garnett's minutes are being reduced and both Smith and McGee are getting plenty, so ok.

Step 6:  Sign JaVale McGee to a 4 year $46 million contract.
         Yr1 $10 mil, Yr2 $11 mil, Yr3 $12mil, Yr4 $13mil
Step 7:  Sign KG to a 2 year $19 million contract (Yr1 $8mil)

I actually don't think this is crazy. This is a huge gamble, so it is the sink-or-swim element of your whole plan. The range of possible outcomes is enormous. A four year commitment to JaVale McGee is a scary notion. I appreciate that you are designing a team to maximize his chances of success.

Step 8:  Sign Chauncey Billups for $2.55 million by using the
         Room Exception

Count me in. Who knows if we can actually get him, but yes absolutely.

PG:  Rondo/Billups/Moore
SG:  Bradley/Barton
SF:  Smith/Green or Williams
PF:  KG/Moultrie/JJJ
C:   McGee/Stiemsma/Sucre

Exciting, and thanks for putting a lot of thought into it. It was fun to read. Looking back, though, don't you wish you'd targeted Perry Jones III or Moe Harkless instead of Moultrie?

[ghost_of_davidthirdkill]

Step 1:  Trade picks 21 & 22 to Dallas for #17 and select Arnett Moultrie

I like it! With you so far... (though later on I'm going to wish you had drafted a shooting guard or a small forward instead).

Step 2:  Buy OKC's #28 pick and select Will Barton SG/SF

I don't believe you. It's a good, deep draft. OKC has needs too. At the very least, they will have a spot for a bench guard and a center.

Step 3:  Select Robert Sucre (C) with our 2nd round pick

Not my first choice, but definitely defensible there.

Step 4:  Renounce our free agents

ok, <deepbreath>

Step 5:  3 way trade with Lakers and Hawks
         Celtics receive:  Josh Smith & Marvin Williams
         Lakeers receive:  Paul Pierce & Brandon Bass
         Hawks receive:    Pau Gasol

And the Lakers say "OMG why did I take Pierce and Bass in that deal when I could have had Smith and Williams?!?!?!?!" This is the weak link, as Smith and Williams are actually even better fits for the Lakers!

I assumed initially that you were not intending to resign Garnett. Instead, you see Smith playing some SF. I think that the most likely scenario with your personnel is that McGee comes off the bench in year 1 and Garnett comes off the bench in year two. Either way, Garnett's minutes are being reduced and both Smith and McGee are getting plenty, so ok.

Step 6:  Sign JaVale McGee to a 4 year $46 million contract.
         Yr1 $10 mil, Yr2 $11 mil, Yr3 $12mil, Yr4 $13mil
Step 7:  Sign KG to a 2 year $19 million contract (Yr1 $8mil)

I actually don't think this is crazy. This is a huge gamble, so it is the sink-or-swim element of your whole plan. The range of possible outcomes is enormous. A four year commitment to JaVale McGee is a scary notion. I appreciate that you are designing a team to maximize his chances of success.

Step 8:  Sign Chauncey Billups for $2.55 million by using the
         Room Exception

Count me in. Who knows if we can actually get him, but yes absolutely.

PG:  Rondo/Billups/Moore
SG:  Bradley/Barton
SF:  Smith/Green or Williams
PF:  KG/Moultrie/JJJ
C:   McGee/Stiemsma/Sucre

Exciting, and thanks for putting a lot of thought into it. It was fun to read. Looking back, though, don't you wish you'd targeted Perry Jones III or Moe Harkless instead of Moultrie?

I appreciate your comments.  Truthfully, I also am a bit skeptical at the Lakers prefering Pierce and Bass over Smith and Williams.  I was basically thowing it out into the ether, because I'd really like to get Smith.  With that being said, if the Smith trade couldn't happen I'd make this adjustment.

1)  Keep Pierce & Bass
2)  For those who don't believe OKC would sell a pick, then I'd trade our 2nd round pick (non guaranteed contract) along with cash for their 1st rounder.

3)  If Perry Jones were availble at 17, then yes, I'd probably pick him there.  I just don't think he will be.

Adjusted Celtics' roster:

PG:  Rondo/Billups/Moore
SG:  Bradley/Barton
SF:  Green/Pierce
PF:  Moultrie/Bass/JJJ
C:   KG/McGee/Stiemsma


I believe Pierce would be best served coming off the bench as th 6th man.  This way the C's can limit his minutes, plus it adds much needed scoring punch off the bench.

However, I'd continue to start KG, but also limit his minutes to around 25/game.  Some of those could be played at the 4.  This would allow McGee to play around 30 minutes per game.

I feel that this would leave the C's with a good mix of experience, youth and athleticism.